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Yusra Farzan
What I cover
I am a geek for city council meetings — meaning I watch those long local government meetings so you don’t have to. And I keep you informed on how decisions in Orange County’s 34 cities affect your electricity bill, how your taxes are funding the next big project, the resources available at your child's school and if there is a corruption scandal brewing within your local government. Orange County’s food scene excites me too. If you ask me about the foods of my childhood, I will tell you about its Levantine shawarma, Korean bulgogi, Yemeni mandi, Sri Lankan kottu, Indian chicken 65, Pakistani biriyani and Malaysian nasi lemak. And guess what, I can find it all in O.C. I hope to help people connect with the different communities that call O.C. home.
My background
I grew up in the Middle East, but I am of Sri Lankan descent and I can count people from 27 different nationalities as friends. I got my start in entertainment reporting but soon realized local news has my heart. My work can be found in the Orange County Register, The Guardian US, L.A. Times, Teen Vogue, NPR and BuzzFeed.
My goals
I want to help people understand how if they want to see systemic change in housing, policing, education or healthcare — it all starts at the local level.
Best way to reach me
Covering 34 cities can be a lot, so I need your help in being my eyes and ears on the ground. If you have a tip, you can email me at yfarzan@laist.com or on Signal at username: @yusramf.25
Stories by Yusra Farzan
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The emergency funds will go toward restoring passenger rail service after a recent landslide.
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Another stronger front is expected to hit Saturday, with the National Weather Service warning of dangerous, even life-threatening impacts.
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Tips for those living in areas prone to coastal erosion like along the coast or on a bluff.
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The presence of the Oriental fruit fly has also prompted a quarantine of produce grown in a large portion of the Inland Empire.
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Applications open Tuesday, Jan. 30.
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The program is designed to explore ways to combat inequity.
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The rail track sits on a hillside prone to landslides in recent years.
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What do you think came in first in the snack category? Here is a hint: It leaves a trail of bright pinkish-red dust behind.
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While mental health counselors will see an increase in pay, their demands for increased hiring of tenure-track faculty was not included in the agreement.
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More than 100 employees were notified Tuesday that they were going to be laid off.
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Lily Gladstone, Colman Domingo and Jodie Foster make history.
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Officials have also installed razor wire on the walls to address escape attempts.
